THE CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE Fifth Edition

1 THE CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE . Fifth Edition CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE ONLINE. The INFORMATION provided in this printed copy of the CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE ( Fifth Edition ) is accurate as of the time of printing. For updated INFORMATION to any of the topics contained in this GUIDE , as well as new TRAVEL -related topics that we have researched since this GUIDE was published, please refer to our website or telephone the CSA office. 2 CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE canadian snowbird association . 180 Lesmill Road Toronto, Ontario Fax: (416) 441-7007. M3B 2T5 Canada E-mail: (416) 391-9000 English Call Centre (416) 391-9090 French Call Centre (800) 265-3200 Toll-free English (800) 265-5132 Toll-free French The content of the CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE ( Fifth Edition ), is to be used for general INFORMATION purposes only. The canadian snowbird association (CSA) assumes no responsibility for the advice and INFORMATION presented.

2 canadian snowbird association , 2016. 1-800-265-3200 CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE 3. CONTENTS. Canada Daily questions before you leave.. 9. SUPPLEMENTAL TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE.. 9. AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE LIABILITY LIMITS.. 10. PASSPORT EXPIRY DATES SIX MONTHS BEYOND YOUR RETURN DATE..10. Snowbirds travelling to the .. 10. Taking a Cruise.. 10. Wintering in (or travelling to) a country other than the United States.. 10. Passport Canada.. 10. RENEWING YOUR canadian DRIVER'S LICENCE AND VEHICLE REGISTRATION .. 11. SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER (SIN) ABROAD.. 11. TAKING CURRENCY AND CREDIT CARDS ABROAD.. 12. Taking Hard Currency (Banknotes).. 12. $10,000 or more .. 13. Bank Cards and Automatic Teller Machines (ATM).. 13. canadian Credit Cards at Automatic Gasoline Pumps.. 13. Advise Your Credit Card Company before Leaving .. 14. Traveller's Cheques.. 14. Best solution for long-term travellers Currency Exchange Programs .. 15. Travelling to the United States Crossing the border.

3 15. ARRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES BY AIR - ADVANCED PASSENGER INFORMATION SYSTEM (APIS) REQUIREMENTS.. 15. Electronic System for TRAVEL Authorization (ESTA).. 16. Fast Facts.. 17. HOW LONG CAN I VISIT?.. 17. Clarification of Six Months Admissibility of canadian Citizens under B-2 Visa (Tourist).. 20. Time to Allow Between Each Trip.. 20. HOW LONG WILL I WAIT TO CROSS THE BORDER?.. 21. NEXUS.. 22. PROVING YOU ARE ONLY A TEMPORARY VISITOR .. 24. I-94 Arrival/Departure Record.. 26. The Department of Homeland Security's TRAVEL Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP).. 26. Complaints against canadian border officials .. 28. VEHICLE TRANSPORT SERVICES.. 29. Using a family member or friend .. 29. Important Note for Travelling to the United States .. 30. 4 CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE Commercial Drive-Away Service .. 31. WHAT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS WILL I REQUIRE FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE UNITED STATES?.. 32. United States Western Hemisphere TRAVEL Initiative (WHTI).

4 32. Youth exemption land and sea only (not air TRAVEL ) .. 32. Can a canadian citizen entering the United States by land or sea (without a passport) depart from the by air without a passport?.. 32. WHAT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED FOR CHILDREN AND INFANTS?.. 33. Can a canadian citizen entering the United States by land or sea (without a passport). depart from the by air without a passport?.. 33. WHY HAVE I BEEN REFUSED OR BANNED FROM ENTRY?.. 35. Criminal Records .. 35. Refusal of/Banned from Entry.. 37. Travelling to the United States Bringing items to the United States .. 38. BRINGING ITEMS FOR PERSONAL CONSUMPTION FROM CANADA TO THE UNITED STATES .. 38. Notice to Travellers.. 39. Fresh fruits .. 39. Fresh vegetables .. 40. Meat and dairy products .. 40. Seeds and nuts (for consumption).. 41. Other food items .. 41. Alcoholic beverages (including homemade wine).. 42. Medication.. 42. CAN I TAKE (EXPORT) AN AUTOMOBILE TO THE UNITED STATES?

5 42. Can I Take (Export) a Trailer to the United States?.. 44. TAKING MEDICATION TO THE UNITED STATES.. 45. TAKING YOUR PET TO THE UNITED STATES.. 47. WHAT DUTY-FREE ITEMS CAN I TAKE TO THE UNITED STATES?.. 48. Duty-Free Exemption.. 48. Tobacco Products.. 48. Alcoholic Beverages.. 49. Gifts.. 49. Canada Mail Shipments .. 49. Shipments by Courier .. 50. WHAT HOUSEHOLD ITEMS CAN I BRING? .. 50. Canada Customs.. 50. Customs.. 51. Automobiles, House-trailers and Boats.. 52. 1-800-265-3200 CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE 5. CONTENTS (CONTINUED). Travelling to the United States Daily questions about the United States .. 52. WILL I BE SUBJECT TO TAXES IN THE UNITED STATES?.. 52. Internal Revenue Service Form 8840 - Closer Connection Exception Statement for Aliens.. 52. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 BEN - Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding.. 53. Scam Alert.. 54. Estate Tax .. 54.

6 Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).. 55. PURCHASING PROPERTY IN THE UNITED STATES.. 57. Do you hold foreign property?.. 57. Homestead Exemptions on Property .. 58. Arizona Homestead Exemptions.. 58. California Homestead Exemptions.. 59. Florida Homestead Exemptions.. 59. Texas Homestead Exemptions.. 60. Community Homeowners, Cooperative and Condominium Associations.. 60. Operating Costs .. 62. Closing Costs.. 62. For Further INFORMATION .. 62. RENTING OUT YOUR PROPERTY WHILE YOU ARE AWAY.. 64. Can I claim a canadian federal foreign tax credit?.. 65. SELLING (DISPOSING) OF PROPERTY IN THE UNITED STATES.. 66. Do you hold foreign property?.. 66. Withholding and capital gains tax.. 66. CAN I ACQUIRE A STATE DRIVER'S LICENCE OR IDENTIFICATION CARD?.. 67. Arizona Driver's Licence.. 67. Arizona Identification Card.. 67. California Driver's Licence and California Identification Card.. 68. Florida Driver's Licence and Florida Identification Card.

7 69. Texas Driver's Licence and Texas Identification Card .. 70. CAN I VOLUNTEER OR WORK IN THE UNITED STATES?.. 70. FLORIDA PROPERTY INSURANCE MARKET ASSISTANCE PLAN.. 71. Florida Market Assistance Program .. 71. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.. 71. WHAT IF I LOSE MY IDENTITY DOCUMENTS? .. 72. IDENTITY THEFT.. 73. LOTTERY AND GAMBLING WINNINGS..74. Making a Claim.. 75. 6 CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE USING HANDICAP PLACARD AND DISABLED PARKING SPACES IN THE UNITED STATES.. 76. Arizona .. 76. California.. 76. Florida.. 77. Texas .. 77. WILLS AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY.. 77. Wills in Florida (and other places) .. 77. Powers of Attorney .. 78. Travelling back to Canada Bringing items back to Canada.. 79. BRINGING FRUITS, VEGETABLES, MEAT, DAIRY AND PRODUCTS BACK TO CANADA.. 79. Fruits.. 79. Vegetables.. 80. Meat and poultry products (ex. jerky, sausages, deli meats and patties, foie gras).. 80. Meat and poultry: fresh, frozen and chilled.

8 80. Fish and seafood.. 80. Game animal carcasses.. 81. Dairy products.. 81. Baked goods, candies, .. 81. Spices, tea, coffee and condiments.. 81. CAN I BRING (IMPORT) AN AUTOMOBILE TO CANADA?.. 82. TEMPORARY PLATING AND REGISTRATION OF A VEHICLE.. 84. Arizona Licence Plates and Vehicle Registration.. 84. California Licence Plates and Vehicle Registration.. 84. Florida Licence Plates and Vehicle Registration .. 85. Texas Licence Plates and Vehicle Registration.. 85. BRINGING A RENTAL VEHICLE INTO CANADA.. 86. MAILING GIFTS BACK TO CANADA.. 86. What taxes and duty will I pay on goods mailed to Canada? .. 87. TAXES AND DUTY WHEN IMPORTING GOODS TO CANADA.. 87. How can I pay the duties on goods I import?.. 88. Where can I find more customs INFORMATION ?.. 89. WHAT CAN I BRING BACK DUTY-FREE TO CANADA?.. 89. Tobacco products.. 90. Alcoholic beverages.. 90. Gifts.. 90. Awards and Prizes.. 91. Repairs and Alterations to a Vehicle, Vessel or Aircraft.

9 91. Declare Valuables You Are Taking Before You Leave.. 91. 1-800-265-3200 CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE 7. CONTENTS (CONTINUED). Embassy and Consulates.. 92. GENERAL EMBASSY AND CONSULATE INFORMATION .. 92. Security Restrictions.. 92. Consular Services for Canadians Abroad.. 93. UNITED STATES EMBASSY AND CONSULATES IN CANADA.. 94. canadian EMBASSY AND CONSULATES IN THE UNITED STATES.. 95. canadian EMBASSY AND CONSULATES IN MEXICO..97. 8 CSA TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE CANADA DAILY QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU. LEAVE. SUPPLEMENTAL TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE. Out-of-country health care can be costly, quite often a foreign nation's medical providers' rates for its residents are influenced by federal or state health insurance plan reimbursement rates while non- resident patients ( snowbird travellers) are charged a much higher rate, and your canadian provincial or territorial governmental health plan may not cover any medical expenses abroad.

10 The CSA holds the same position as Global Affairs Canada in recommending the purchase of supple- mental TRAVEL health insurance by Canadians when travelling abroad. Do not rely on your provincial or territorial health plan to cover costs if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It is your responsibility to seek INFORMATION from your provincial or territorial health authority and to obtain supplementary TRAVEL insurance and understand the terms of your policy. The CSA endorses the TRAVEL medical insurance products provided by Medipac International. Further INFORMATION can be obtained by calling 1-888-MEDIPAC (1-888-633-4722) or by visiting Carry details of your insurance with you while travelling and leave a copy with a friend or relative at home. Your provincial or territorial health insurance plan will become invalid if you live elsewhere beyond a certain length of time. Personal medical insurance is available for individuals and their dependants living outside Canada for extended periods.